Dr Damion Corrigan

Strathclyde Chancellor's Fellow

Biomedical Engineering

Personal statement

Based on core expertise in electrochemistry and device fabrication my research aims to develop improved diagnostic tests for clinically important conditions such as, drug resistant bacterial infections, sepsis and cancer. In the group we work on a range of sensor systems, from high value microfabricated arrays through to low cost devices for use in resource limited settings.

Some examples of projects under my supervision include -

Development of a rapid, comprehensive test for sepsis
A diagnostic assay for drug resistant Gram-negative infections
Realising the liquid biopsy for improved cancer diagnosis
A novel antibiotic susceptibility test
A lab-on-a-chip for multi drug resistant TB diagnosis in low/middle income countries
New diagnostics for COVID-19

I joined Strathclyde in 2016 as a Chancellor's Fellow in Health Technologies and became a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Engineering during 2019. I have a background in biological and chemical sensing having obtained a PhD in Bioanalytical Chemistry from Cranfield University followed by periods of Post Doctoral research at Southampton and Edinburgh Universities. Past achievements include development of an assay for MRSA which was patented and licensed for development, the award of a Longitude Prize Discovery Award during 2017 for a project called "Microplate" and with colleagues from the University of Leeds, development of a microelectrode sensor for prompt diagnosis of sepsis.

Areas of particular interest include: electrochemical and optical techniques, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), microfabricated sensor systems and microelecrode sensor arrays for multi target diagnostic assays.

My work is often highly interdisciplinary involving industrial partners (e.g. GSK, National Nuclear Laboratory, AstraZeneca, Lifescan, Flexmedical Solutuons, Biotangents and other SMEs) and projects rely on close collaboration with other academics, including: clinicians, microbiologists, neuroscientists, electrical engineers and chemists.

I also have expertise of electrochemical sensing in harsh and extreme environments and aqueous & non aqueous electroplating. Prior to joining Strathclyde, I was involved in developing a microelectrode sensor for use in nuclear fuel reprocessing (as part of the EPSRC sponsored "REFINE" project) and played a role in designing and comissioning an open access national facility for nuclear fuel reprocessing research at the University of Edinburgh.

Prizes and awards

Scottish Crucibilist 2018: Recipient; 2018
GRPE Early Career Research Exchange - University of Washington - Seattle: Recipient; 9/2017
Longitude Prize Discovery Award: Recipient; 1/8/2017
Edinburgh Bioquarter Innovation Competition: Recipient; 2013

More prizes and awards

Publications

Low-cost, thin-film, mass-manufacturable carbon electrodes for detection of the neurotransmitter dopamine: Hannah Stuart, Al-Hatmi Maha, Gray Louise, Corrigan Damion K; Bioelectrochemistry Vol 133 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioelechem.2020.107480
Test structure and measurement system for characterising the electrochemical performance of nanoelectrode structures: Schmueser Ilka, Blair Ewen O, Isiksacan Ziya, Li Yifan, Corrigan Damion K, Stokes Adam A, Terry Jonathan G, Mount Andrew R, Walton Anthony J; 2020 IEEE 33rd International Conference on Microelectronic Test Structures (ICMTS) (2020); https://doi.org/10.1109/ICMTS48187.2020.9107930
Biologically modified microelectrode sensors provide enhanced sensitivity for detection of nucleic acid sequences from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Blair Ewen O, Hannah Stuart, Vezza Vincent, Avci Hüseyin, Kocagoz Tanil, Hoskisson Paul A, Güzel Fatma D, Corrigan Damion K; Sensors and Actuators Reports Vol 2 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snr.2020.100008
Impedance testing of porous Si3N4 scaffolds for skeletal implant applications: Onat Akbulut Serder, Ghorbanpoor Hamed, İpteç Betül Özbek, Butterworth Adrian, Avcıoğlu Gamze, Kozacı Leyla Didem, Topateş Gulsum, Corrigan Damion K, Avci Huseyin, Guzel Fatma D; SN Applied Sciences Vol 2 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-2624-4
Developments in microscale and nanoscale sensors for biomedical sensing: Hannah Stuart, Blair Ewen, Corrigan Damion K; Current Opinion in Electrochemistry Vol 23, pp. 7-15 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2020.02.012
Establishing a field-effect transistor sensor for the detection of mutations in the tumour protein 53 gene (TP53) : an electrochemical optimisation approach: Crossley Lisa, Attoye Bukola, Vezza Vincent, Blair Ewen, Corrigan Damion K, Hannah Stuart; Biosensors Vol 9 (2019); https://doi.org/10.3390/bios9040141

More publications

Teaching

I am module leader for BE915 - Medical Science which is a module taught within MSc Biomedical Engineering.

I also contribute to the following courses in the Department of Biomedical Engineering -

Cell Biology I (BE105) - Metabolism (Lectures)

Cell Biology II (BE207) - Physical Chemistry/Methods in Cell Biology - (Lectures and Teaching Labs)

Research Methods (BE428) - Statistical analysis of data sets (Lectures and Computer Labs)

Professional activities

Development of diagnostic technologies for infectious and non-infectious diseases: Speaker; 12/3/2020
Biologically modified electrodes for medical sensing applications: Speaker; 3/2/2020
Development of electrochemical biosensors for the detection of sepsis and improved antimicrobial susceptibility testing.: Speaker; 6/11/2019
Addressing the global rise in antimicrobial resistant infections through lab-on-a-chip technology: Participant; 11/2019
Analytical Chemistry (Journal): Peer reviewer; 10/2019
Biosensors and Bioelectronics (Journal): Peer reviewer; 10/2019

More professional activities

Projects

Strathclyde COVID-19 Research Portfolio: Novel testing, digital health support and third sector collaboration for impact on social care: Bedford, Tim (Principal Investigator) Corrigan, Damion (Co-investigator) Dunlop, Mark (Co-investigator) Egan, Kieren (Co-investigator) Fleming, Leanne (Co-investigator) Flowers, Paul (Co-investigator) Grealy, Madeleine (Co-investigator) Hoskisson, Paul (Co-investigator) Hunter, Iain (Co-investigator) Janssen, Xanne (Co-investigator) Kirk, Alison (Co-investigator) Knifton, Lee (Co-investigator) Lenhart, Otto (Co-investigator) Maguire, Roma (Co-investigator) Morton, Alec (Co-investigator) Quinn, Neil (Co-investigator) Scott, Fraser (Co-investigator) Suckling, Colin (Co-investigator) Ward, Andrew (Co-investigator) Williams, Lynn (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2020 - 30-Jan-2020
Identification of sensor targets for low cost soil fertility assessment: Ward, Andrew (Principal Investigator) Corrigan, Damion (Co-investigator) Knapp, Charles (Co-investigator); 09-Jan-2020 - 08-Jan-2021
Improving rational drug prescription: a rapid and low-cost antibiotic susceptibility test for drug resistant/susceptible tuberculosis: Blair, Ewen (Co-investigator) Corrigan, Damion (Principal Investigator) Hannah, Stuart (Co-investigator); Multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a significant healthcare challenge. For example, in 2016 there were 558,000 new cases globally. Quoting the World Health Organisation “Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is multifactorial and fuelled by improper treatment of patients, poor management of supply and quality of drugs, and airborne transmission of bacteria in public places. Case management becomes difficult and the challenge is compounded by catastrophic economic and social costs that patients incur while seeking help and on treatment”.
A vital aspect of mitigating the health, social and economic costs associated with MDR-TB is the ability to rapidly diagnose the disease and quickly pinpoint which antibiotics will be effective.
DC’s group have been developing a new rapid antibiotic susceptibility test called “Microplate”. This technology was acknowledged with a prestigious Longitude Prize Discovery Award during 2017. We have recently published our first demonstration of the Microplate approach to drug susceptibility testing (with MRSA) and now have the opportunity through this pump-priming scheme to collaborate with groups in India to develop the technology specifically for MDR-TB. The technology is easy to use, low cost, mass manufacturable and fits well with established microbiological methods. It is therefore ideal for deployment in low resource settings.; 01-Jan-2020 - 30-Jan-2020
SensCycle - Follow on Project - Tenovus Scotland Small Pilot Grant: Jimenez, Melanie (Principal Investigator) Corrigan, Damion (Co-investigator) Gibson, Douglas (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2020 - 31-Jan-2020
Doctoral Training Partnership 2018-19 University of Strathclyde | Talbot, Curtis: Gourlay, Terry (Principal Investigator) Reid, Stuart (Principal Investigator) Corrigan, Damion (Co-investigator) Uttamchandani, Deepak (Co-investigator) Talbot, Curtis (Research Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2020 - 01-Jan-2023
PhD Project - Extended research exchange on electrochemical biosensors: Corrigan, Damion (Principal Investigator) Hannah, Stuart (Co-investigator) Schulte, Albert (Co-investigator) Thaweskulchai, Thana (Post Grad Student); 01-Jan-2019 - 01-Jan-2020

More projects

Address

Biomedical Engineering
Graham Hills Building

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